Draft gear



L. M. CLARK DRAFT GEAR Jan. 2, 1934- Filed June 22, 1932 wwww F E1! E2 xewereaf (far .Q q l' b; 7 J

Patented Jan. 2, 1934 UNITED STATES DRAFT GEAR Leverett M. Clark, Depew, N. Y., assignor to Waugh Equipment Company, Depew, N. Y., a

corporation of Maine Application June 22, 1932. Serial No. 618,633

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a draft gear and constitutes an improvement of the structure disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 598,348, filed March 12, 1932.

In the application above identified, a relatively strong coil spring acts against the side wedges, while a relatively weaker coil spring acts against the center wedges, with the result that the center wedges, due to their angular coincidence, will be more readily and positively released than the wedgesystem in its entirety which coacts with the housing parallel with its axis. In addition to this, a greater pressure against the side wedges than is normally required for take-up purposes would tend to counteract the center wedge release due to the inverse angular coincidence. Therefore, if the greater pressure capacity of the outer helical spring were applied to the center wedges, and the lesser pressure capacity of the inner helical spring were applied to the side wedges, the conditions would be more ideal and a more satisfactory release of the wedge system would occur.

According to this invention, the draft gear is so designed that the greater spring pressure acts upon the center wedges, while the lesser spring pressure acts upon the side wedges, whereby a more satisfactory and better release of the wedge system is obtained.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and defined in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates a preferred form of this invention, and in which similar reference numbers refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is a part elevational and part sectional view of a draft gear involving this invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged end elevational View looking in the right hand end of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken upon the line III--III of Figure 1 looking in the direction of arrow.

One embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the drawing and in referring to the different figures it will be observed that a rectanagular casing 1 has been illustrated having a hollow inwardly projecting boss 2 at one end. The other end of the rectangular casing is open for receiving the wedges. The sides of the open end of the casing are preferably slightly inclined as indicated at 3 and against these sloping sides there are located the side wedges 4. The inner ends of the side wedges 4 are angularly recessed as indicated at 5 to accommodate the heads 6 on the center wedges '7. A cylindrical member 8 is positioned between the center wedges 7 and is connected by an equalizing rod 9 with the hollow boss 2.

A follower 10 is provided for the center wedges '7. This follower has a pair of projecting lugs 11 for engaging the center wedges 7. These lugs 11 pass through suitable apertures in a second follower 12 that engages the side wedges 4. A relatively strong coil spring 13, which is located in the casing and bears against the closed end thereof, engages the follower 10 for action with respect to the center wedges. A lighter coil spring 14, which rests upon the boss 2, engages the follower 12 which is provided with a slightly raised boss 12 for centering such spring. As the follower 12 engages the side wedges, it will be obvious that the same are under the action of the lighter spring 14.

It will be appreciated that according to the arrangement of the springs and wedges, a greater force upon release will be applied to the center wedges and will relieve the pressure against the side wedges which can be more readily actuated by the lighter spring. With this arrangement, the release of the friction wedges after impact will be more quickly and readily effected than has heretofore been possible with the actions of the springs reversed.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a draft gear, a casing, a pair of side wedges in said casing, center wedges between said side wedges, a follower engaging said side wedges, a coil spring engaging said follower, a second follower having lugs extending through said first mentioned follower for engaging said center wedges and a coil spring having greater resistance than said first mentioned spring acting upon said second follower.

2. In a draft gear, a casing, a pair of side wedges extending inwardly from one end of said casing, a pair of center wedges between said side wedges, a rod connecting said center wedges with the opposite end of said casing, a follower in engagement with each pair of wedges, a heavy coil spring engaging the follower for the center wedges and a coil spring having less resistance than said heavy spring engaging the follower for the side wedges.

LEVERETT M. CLARK. 

